fight, was
wholly unknown in those days when, as was done by the Romans at
Jotapata, men would cut the throat of a sleeping foe, with no more
compunction than if they were slaughtering a fowl.

Perceiving, by John's narration, that there was no chance of any of
their comrades getting through to join them, now, the party struck
off into the hills and, after three hours' march, reached their
encampment. They gave a shout of joy, as they approached it; for a
fire was burning brightly, and they knew that some of their
comrades must have reached the spot before them.

Four men rose, as they approached, and joyful greetings were
exchanged. Their stories were soon told. As soon as they heard--by
the shouts of the Romans on the hillside, and of the outer
sentries--that they were discovered as they passed the spaces lit
up by flames, they had turned back. Two of them had made their way
up a deep watercourse, past the Roman guard on the hill--the
attention of the soldiers being fixed upon the camp. The other two
had climbed down the precipitous rocks on the other side of the
hill.

"It was terrible work, in the darkness," one of them said. "I fell,
once, and thought I had broken my leg; but, fortunately, I had
caught on a ledge, and was able to go on after a time. I think two
of our party must have perished there; for twice, as I was
descending, I heard a sudden cry, and then a sound as of a body
falling from rock to rock."

"Better so than to have fallen into the hands of the Romans," John
said, "and to have been forced to slay themselves by their own
hands, as we agreed to do.

"Well, my friends, we have done a glorious deed. We have begun
well. Let us trust that we may strike many more such blows against
our tyrants. Now, let us thank God that he has fought by our hands,
and that He has brought so many of us back from so great a danger!

"Simeon, you are the oldest of the party; do you lift up your voice
for us all."

The party all stood listening reverently, while Simeon said a
prayer of thanksgiving. Then one of them broke out into one of the
psalms of triumph, and all joined at once. When this was done, they
gathered round the fire, prepared their cakes of meal, and put meat
on long skewers on the flames. Having eaten, they talked for hours,
each in turn giving his account of his share in the adventure.

They then talked of their missing friends; those from the same
village telling what they knew of them, and w